Opening our first flagship store in the UK represented a significant step, and we knew we had to (a) find the right location and (b) create a showroom that firstly caught the attention of passers-by and then, once enticed in, would immerse them in the full “Salvatori experience” and help them fall in love with our core product, natural stone . The first step wasn’t easy but we eventually found a gorgeous site in a stunning listed building in Wigmore St. We then set about taking advantage of the ground floor with its windows giving out onto the street and created just a handful of simple but eye-catching displays, retaining the existing wooden floorboards to provide a juxtaposition with our products in natural stone. Then, down to the basement floor which is a wonderful example of old London architecture. With its fascinating nooks and crannies, vaulted ceiling and unorthodox, almost-tunnel like spaces it lent itself perfectly to creating atmospheric mini-environments for showcasing our products. At the same time, it created a real challenge for our design team to optimise the space, but they did a fantastic job in turning what could be a negative (a dark, windowless basement) into a positive, using artificial lighting to highlight the beauty and unique characteristics of our products. It also provides architects and designers with an inspirational and practical working space where they can bring clients and experiment with textures and colour.